“I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General.” YearsCountryThreeForceFourMilitaryMonthsMembersMajorsActiveThirtyThree YearsMarineMarine CorpsRacketMilitary ForceLieutenantsMilitary Service Author:Smedley Butler
“I spent thirty-three years in the Marines, most of my time being a hlgh class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism.” MenYearsBigsThreeClassStreetsPolicyWallCapitalismThirtyMy TimeMusclesThree YearsForeign PolicyMarineBankersBig Business Author:Smedley Butler
“I had a swell racket. I was rewarded with honors, medals, promotions. l might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate a racket in three city districts. The Marines operated on three continents.” MightThreeGivenCitiesPolicyHonorAlsForeign PolicyContinentsMedalMarinePromotionHintsRacketCapone Author:Smedley Butler
“One hundred and twenty Marines were detailed to officer a force of twenty-six hundred Haitians.” ForceSixHundredTwentiesOfficersMarineMarine Corps Author:Smedley Butler
“I selected an enormous Marine Corps emblem to be tattooed across my chest. It required several sittings and hurt me like the devil, but the finished product was worth the pain. I blazed triumphantly forth, a Marine from throat to waist. The emblem is still with me. Nothing on earth but skinning will remove it.” StillsEarthPainHurtProductsDevilSittingFinishedEnormousRemoveChestsThroatMarineHurt MeSelectedMarine CorpsEmblemsTattooed Author:Smedley Butler
“I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.” MenBigsClassStreetsWallPeriodsMajorsCapitalismMy TimeMusclesMarineBankersGangstersBig BusinessMarine CorpsRacketLieutenantsHigh Class Author:Smedley Butler
“I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long... Looking back on it, I feel I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three city districts. We Marines operated on three continents.” FeelsLongMightThreeGivenCitiesHalfRecordsStreetsWallBenefitsAlsRepublicDozenContinentsLooking BackMarineHintsRacketCapone Author:Smedley Butler
